Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Malpractice

Since 1958, The Beasley Firm has been committed to fighting for everyday
people who need our help. There are few cases where the vulnerability
and needs of our clients are clearer than in medical malpractice cases.
We have been passionately representing the injured victims of medical
malpractice for more than 55 years, and our success in this arena has
made us the enemy of negligent doctors and hospitals all over Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Delaware, and elsewhere.

Our firm has had the honor of achieving incredible results for our clients,
including:

Being recognized among "The Best Law Firms" for medical malpractice

Recovering more than $2 billion for our clients

Winning the two largest medical malpractice verdicts in Pennsylvania ($100
million & $55 million)

More than 300+ verdicts & settlements larger than $1 million

Securing the financial futures for children and families with lifelong injuries

What is the difference between medical negligence and medical malpractice?

Many times, the terms are interchangeable. Medical malpractice or medical
negligence means that a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant,
surgeon, nurse midwife, surgeon, anesthesiologist, pharmacist, respiratory
therapist or other healthcare provider acted in a way that deviated from
the accepted standards of care, and that act or omission by the healthcare
provider caused injury or death to a patient. Medical negligence includes
accidents or mistakes that should not have happened, while malpractice
may also include malicious or intentional acts by medical professionals.

I think I was a victim of medical malpractice-how can I be sure?

A patient or family member usually has a gut feeling that something went
terribly wrong while they were under the care of a physician, surgeon,
nurse practitioner, obstetrician, nurse midwife or other healthcare provider.
While medical malpractice may have occurred, there are also instances
where there might have been a bad outcome or injury but it might not be
due to a negligence or medical mistake. The only way to really find out
if there was medical malpractice or negligence is to contact a law firm
that is experienced in reviewing medical malpractice cases.

Who can be sued for medical negligence or malpractice?

Many injured medical malpractice victims are aware that they can sue the
doctor, nurse, surgeon, physician assistant (PA), anesthesiologist, OB
doctor, nurse midwife, pharmacist or nurse practitioner for medical negligence.
However, an injured patient may also be able to sue the hospital, nursing
home, physician practice group, medical teaching facility, and corporate
entities associated with those medical providers. It is important to contact
an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia who is familiar
with identifying all the parties that can be held accountable for the
medical error.

I had a bad outcome after being treated for something. Do I have a case?

Unfortunately, not all bad outcomes are due to medical malpractice. Sometimes,
infections or medical problems can get worse instead of getting better,
or even cause death in the absence of any medical negligence. In other
cases, an error may have occurred, but it did not cause any permanent
damage or injuries.

I was given the wrong medicine. Do I have a malpractice case?

Medication errors are one of the most frequent mistakes made in a hospital setting. Even
if you or a loved one received the wrong medication, wrong dose, or did
not receive a medication that was ordered, it might not meet the standards
required by law to bring forth a medical malpractice case. The only way
to be sure is to contact a Philadelphia medical malpractice attorney who
is experienced in reviewing medication error cases.

Do I have a case if my doctor did not tell me my test results and now I
have advanced cancer?

At times, there are lab tests, x-rays, CT scans, or MRI's that show early
warning signs that a patient may have cancer or a tumor. If those early
warning signs were noticed, additional testing could have been ordered
to help diagnose the cancer earlier. Sometimes, the failure of a doctor
or nurse practitioner to follow-up on early warning signs can lead to a
delay in diagnosing cancer. If there was a delay in diagnosing your cancer, you may have a valid
medical malpractice claim.

My baby has cerebral palsy. Do I have a malpractice case?

Sometimes,
cerebral palsy can occur in the absence of any medical malpractice or physician error.
However, if your child experienced a prolonged period of time where he/she
suffered from hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen to the brain during the pregnancy,
prenatal period, labor or delivery, or shortly after birth, the cerebral
palsy may have been caused by a permanent brain injury.

Since your baby could not talk during delivery to tell the doctor if he
or she is in fetal distress, your baby had to communicate their well-being
on the fetal monitor strips or baby monitor. The only way to tell if your
infant may have cerebral palsy due to a birth injury is to have a law
firm who is very knowledgeable in interpreting the fetal monitor strips
and what your baby was telling the doctor or obstetrician during labor
or delivery.

I can't afford all the medical bills, how can I afford an attorney?

Most plaintiff law firms handling injury cases will not charge you any
money up front to represent you. If you should receive an award, settlement
or verdict, the attorney will subtract what it cost to work up your case
and a small percentage fee upon conclusion of the case. If no award was
received, you do not owe anything. The Beasley Firm operates on a contingency
fee basis.

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Please
note: All cases are different and past results do not predict future case outcomes.

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